Single-delivery match-safe



No. 6|3,327. Patented Nov. I, I898. S. H. SHIPMAN.

SINGLE DELIVERY MATCH SAFE.

(Application filed May 9, 1898) (No Model Wil'gcsscs UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

SAMUEL H. SHIPMAN, OF WAXAHAOHIE, TEXAS.

SING LE-DELIVERY MATC H-SAFE.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,327, dated November 1, 1898.

Application filed May 9, 1898. Serial No. 680,162- (No model.)

To a, whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. SHIPMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Waxa= hachie, in the county of Ellis and State of Texas,have invented a new and useful Match Safe, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in match-safes.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of match-safes and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one adapted to be readily operated and capa= ble of discharging a single match at each operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically agitating the matches within the device, so that the carrier or elevator for conveying the matches from the supply to the point of discharge will be positively supplied.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a match-safe constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the reciprocating match-support. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken longitudinally of the end less carrier. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the reciprocating match -support-. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the up per plate, showing the upper face thereof. Fig. 6 is a similar View showing the lower face of the upper plate and illustrating the arrangement of the fingers.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

l designates a casing having a flat bottom 2 and vertical sides The rear wall 4 of the casing slants inward, and the front wall 5, which is inclined, is provided at the bottom with a discharge-opening (5. The casing is provided at its top and back with a hinged section 7 ,connected at its upper end by hinges 8 with a fixed section 9 of the top, and the lower end of the hinged section or door 7 is secured to the back 4 by a hook and eye or other suitable fastening device.

The hinged door or section 7 afiords access to the interior of the casing, and the matches are arranged within a chute comprising a bottom plate or support 10 and a top plate 11, arranged parallel with the bottom plate or support, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. The plates 10 and 11, which are disposed at a slight inclination to feed the matches downward toward their inner ends, extend from the rear wall, and the bottom plate 10, which supports the matches, is of'greater length than the top plate and is capable of a limited reciprocation to cause the matches to travel downward. The lower or inner end of the match-supporting plate 10 is bent downward to form a de pending flange 12 and is arranged to be engaged by a carrier or elevator 13, which is adapted to convey the matches from the chute and discharge them successively at the opening 6 of the casing.

The reciprocating supporting-plate, which is provided at opposite sides with longitudinal flanges 14:, is supported by pins 15, which are arranged in slots 14 of the flanges, and the latter preferably extend downward from the plate 10. These flanges are preferably constructed of separate angle-pieces and are,

arranged as shown in the accompanying drawings, being suitably secured to the lower face of the bottom plate.

In order to feed the matches forward positively, the bottom plate or support is provided with a series of angular bends forming steps or ledges 10, arranged at difierent elevations, and the top plate is provided with depending fingers 11*, arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the plate and located normally adjacent to the angular bends of the bottom plate or support, whereby when the latter is reciprocated the fingers will cause the matches -to drop from one ledge or step to another.

The depending fingers by being arranged in pairs, as shown, engage the matches near their ends and serve to hold them straight on the support.

The upper plate is provided at its upper face with longitudinal flanges 11 having slots or recesses 11 at their inner ends to receive supporting-pins 15 and the slots of both the upper and lower plates extend inward from the ends of the flanges. The outer end of the upper plate is provided with laterally-disposed lugs 11, which are arranged in grooves of the side walls of the casing adjacent to the back wall, and when it is desired to supply the chute with matches the upper plate is drawn outward to disengage the lugs from the grooves and is swung upward to enable the matches to be placed on the lower plate or support. The inner end 11 of the upper plate is bent downward to prevent a too-rapid feed of the matches. This construction, while causing a positive feed of the matches to the carrier, does not permit a too-rapid feed, and thereby prevents the device from becoming clogged.

The carrier or elevator 13 is provided at intervals with match-receptacles 17, consisting of L-shaped flanges or buckets suitably secured to the carrier or elevator, preferably by means of attachment plates or flanges, as shown, and these match receptacles or holders 17 are adapted to engage the lower end of the reciprocating plate and force the same upward or rcarwardnvhereby the matches are agitated. The reciprocating plate is returned after its engagement by means of a spiral springlS, interposed between a block or support 19 and the depending flange 12 at the lower end of the supporting-plate. By this construction the supporting-plate is springactuated and is adapted to be automatically returned to its position for engagement by the holders of the carrier.

The carrier or elevator, which may consist ofa wheel, if desired, is preferably in the form of an endless belt mounted on upper and lower rolls 20 and 21, journaled in suitable bearing-openings of the sides of the casing, the upper roll having extended journals and being provided with knobs 22 or other suitable handles, by which the device may be readily operated. The upper roll is provided adjacent to the sides of the casing with ratchetteeth 23, which are engaged by springs 24, mounted on a suitable support 25 and adapted to lock the carrier or elevator against retrograde movement; but anyothersuitable form of dog or pawl may be employed to accomplish this result. The belt is provided on its inner face with lugs 26, preferably formed integral with plates and adapted to be en gaged by pins or sprockets 27, projecting from the upper roll and arranged in an annular recess of the same. The plates are riveted to the belt and the pins or sprockets insure a positive feed for the carrier or elevator. The lower roll is provided with a circumferential recess to provide a passage for the lugs of the endless carrier.

The invention has the following advantages: The match-safe, which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, is positive and reliable in operation and it is adapted to discharge matches successively and prevent more than one from being discharged at atime. The match-support,which holds the supply of matches, is automatically reciprocated, so that the matches are agitated and positively delivered to the endless carrier in order that there may be no match holders or flanges carried upward empty.

Changesin the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Vhat I claim is 1. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a reciprocating match-support adapted to receive a supply of matches, and a carrier provided at intervals with matchholders and arranged to convey the matches from the support to the point of discharge and adapted to engage the support, whereby the same will be automatically reciprocated to agitate the matches and cause the latter to be fed from the support to the holders of the carrier, substantially as described.

2. A match-safe comprising a casing, a reciprocating match-support adapted to receive a supply of matches, and a carrier arranged to convey matches from the support to the point of discharge, said carrier being provided with projecting match holders or flanges arranged to engage the support, whereby the same will be automatically vibrated or reciprocated to agitate the matches and cause the latter to be fed from the support to the holders or flanges of the carrier, substantially as described.

3. A match-safe comprising a casing, a reciprocating match-support mounted in the casing for longitudinal movement, a spring connected with the match-support and adapted to move the same in one direction, and a carrier provided with match holders or flanges adapted to receive matches and arranged to ICC engage the support, whereby the same will be automatically vibrated or reciprooated, substantially as described.

4:. A match-safe comprising a casing, a reciprocating match-support disposed at an inclination and provided at its lower end with a depending flange, a spring located beneath the support and engaging the flange, and a carrier provided with L-shaped flanges orholders arranged to engage the lower end of the match-support, substantially as described.

5. A match-safe comprising a casing provided with a door and havinga discharge-opening, a reciprocating or vibrating match-supporting plate mounted in the casing and located between the door and the dischargeopening, a plate arranged above the reciprocating or vibrating plate and forming a match receptacle or chute, and a carrier interposed between the match receptacle or chute and provided at intervals with flanges forming match-holders and adapted to engage and actuate the match-supporting plate, substantially as described.

6. A match safe comprising a casing, a match receptacle or chute, an endless carrier arranged adjacent to the receptacle or chute, upper and lower rolls supporting the endless carrier and provided with annular recesses, plates or lugs mounted on the inner face of the endless carrier opposite the recesses, and sprocket-pins mounted 011 one of the rolls in the recess thereof and arranged to engage the plates or lugs, whereby the endless carrier is positively actuated, substantially as described.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a casing, a reciprocating match-support provided With a series of steps or ledgesranged in pairs, located at opposite sides of the top plate and arranged to engage the matches and hold them straight on the bottom plate or support, substantially as described.

9. In "a device of the class described, the

combination of a casing having grooves, a 30 bottom supporting-plate adapted to be reciprocated, a top plate having depending fingers and provided at its outer end with lugs engaging the said grooves, and means for supporting the inner end of the top plate, Where by when the lugs are disengaged from the grooves the top plate is adapted to be swung upward, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL H. SHIPMAN.

Witnesses:

J. W. SAWYER, HUGH FALOONAR. 

